Rain washed out the Pirates and Cubs in Pittsburgh, but the pennant race tightened as Kiki Cuyler claimed the National League batting lead, the Cardinals swept Philadelphia, and Babe Ruth continued his historic home run pace.

All the Pirates had to do yesterday in order to break a deadlock which existed between them and their Philadelphia opponents was to take a few pokes at the pellet, lean back and idle along to an 11-1 victory.